Are you reading the Bible through with me? Grab your pen and journal, and get ready to write your thoughts as you journey through the Bible.
Read Genesis 45-47 today. We know that Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers. God had blessed him in spite of this, and he had risen to the rank of Prime Minister because he had remained faithful to the Lord. As his brothers show up in Egypt, he has the perfect opportunity for revenge, but because he remains close to God, thoughts of vengeance are gone. He manages to convince his brothers to bring his father back with them when they come again. Jacob is old now and fearful of leaving his home and moving his entire household to Egypt. But in 46:2-3, God calls Jacob by name and he responds QUICKLY. It’s a good thing he did; God gave him back his son, Joseph.
When is the last time you heard God’s voice? How quickly did you respond? If you want to hear Him, here are a couple of things you need to know.
First, He speaks mostly through His word - the Bible. We can find the answers we are looking for if we read His words to us with a prayerful and clean heart. Sometimes He impresses His truth on us through the Holy Spirit. Second, you need to make undistracted time to read His word. You also need to have undistracted quiet time to pray AND listen. And third, you need to be ready to quickly obey.
The closer to God you are, the less you are confused, worried or fearful.
Which of the three ways to draw closer to God do you need to work on? Write them in your notes section.
What can you do to have a clean, pure, and forgiving heart like Joseph that will give you a closer relationship to God?
Will you listen and react quickly?
Pray: Sovereign God, thank You for Your word and for the Holy Spirit. Thank You for desiring to speak to me. Help me to be more attentive to Your voice and the moving of the Holy Spirit. Help me to be more disciplined in hearing, reading, studying, and memorizing Your word. It is indeed a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Dr. Zane Brown
Retired Associational Missionary for Colleton Baptist Association of Churches
Teaching Pastor at Nova Church
